The Joey Akan Experience

Kachi Benson: The Filmmaker Who Took Chibok to Venice | TJAE

How did Kachi Benson take the stories of the Chibok mothers to Venice? Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Kachi Benson joins Joey Akan on The Joey Akan Experience for a deeply thoughtful conversation about storytelling, representation, and the responsibility of showing people as they truly are. From his journey into documentary filmmaking to taking the stories of the Chibok mothers to Venice, Kachi reflects on the power of stories to move people beyond empathy and towards action. He speaks about the danger of reducing people to their pain, and why the stories we tell must make room for their courage, resilience, hope, and humanity. This conversation explores what it means to tell African stories with honesty, depth, and intention. It challenges us to think about who gets to tell these stories, how they are represented, and what the world comes to understand through them. Watch the full conversation on The Joey Akan Experience. The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production. This season is brought to you by @andrayfinance. Follow Joey Akan: Instagram: https://instagram.com/joeyakan X: https://x.com/joeyakan TikTok: https://tiktok.com/joeyakan Substack: https://afrobeatsintelligence.substack.com/ Follow Kachi Benson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kachibenson/ #KachiBenson #TheJoeyAkanExperience #JoeyAkan #AfricanStories #DocumentaryFilmmaking

Taaooma: The Comedy of Invention | TJAE

Joey Akan sits down with Taaooma, one of Nigeria's most-watched comedy creators, to talk about the work of making things up for a living. Taaooma's career is built on invention. She found comedy in the edit, learned to read an audience nobody had taught her to read, and figured out how to put a price on work that did not have a playbook. She builds her characters from the people she meets every day, then decides which of them are worth keeping. Sometimes that means scrapping content she has already finished. She talks about the discipline behind the jokes, why feedback matters more than applause, her fear of the stage, and the pressure of creating while the whole internet is watching. Underneath all of it is a harder kind of invention: keeping Taaooma the person separate from the characters people have come to love. A conversation about how you keep inventing, and keep yourself, when creativity becomes your job. For finance solutions go to https://andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you! Follow The Joey Akan Experience Instagram: instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejoeyakanexperience X: x.com/joeyakanxp Follow Joey Akan Instagram: instagram.com/joeyakan X: x.com/joeyakan Follow Taaooma Instagram: instagram.com/taaooma The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production.

Tunde Onakoya: The Chess Master Betting on African Slum Kids

Tunde Onakoya sits down with Joey Akan for a conversation about pain, purpose, conviction and the unlikely path that led him to build Chess in Slums Africa. From growing up in a Lagos slum and discovering chess, to choosing to stay in Nigeria when he had the opportunity to leave, Tunde reflects on the experiences that shaped his understanding of purpose and his decision to turn personal pain into something meaningful. He talks about the first seven years of building with almost no resources, the “delusion” required to keep pursuing an idea nobody else could see, and what it means to create a new path when there is no blueprint to follow. The conversation also explores poverty, education, sacrifice, influence, sustainability, storytelling and the responsibility that comes with building something that affects other people’s lives. Watch the full conversation with Tunde Onakoya and Joey Akan on The Joey Akan Experience. This season is brought to you by Andray Finance. For finance solutions, visit andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you! Follow The Joey Akan Experience Instagram: @thejoeyakanexperience TikTok: @thejoeyakanexperience X: @joeyakanxp Follow Joey Akan Instagram: @joeyakan X: @joeyakan Follow Tunde Onakoya Instagram: @tunde_onakoya The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production.

Tope Olowoniyan: I Am Not Another Supporting Actress

In this deep-dive episode of The Joey Akan Experience, Nollywood actress, producer, and entrepreneur Tope Olowoniyan sits down for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable career in Nigerian film.She breaks down the fundamental difference between music and movies — why one person can control a song while filmmaking remains a community project at the mercy of countless moving parts. Tope shares how she now chooses projects with extreme intentionality (who’s directing, producing, and acting alongside her), the constant dance between commercial viability and pure artistry, and why so many promising films never see the light of day. The conversation goes even deeper into the craft itself: the radical self-abandonment required for powerful performances, how real-life experiences fuel emotional authenticity, the physical and mental toll of living inside characters (and the rituals she uses to “detox” afterward), and the challenges of marketability in an industry that often prioritizes social media numbers over talent. From her transformative role in King of Boys to the emotional intensity of projects like Between Silence and Truth, Tope reflects on growth, purpose, the lack of long-term systems in Nollywood, and why creatives must dream beyond the next Netflix deal or quick YouTube cash-out. This is one of those rare industry conversations that feels both practical and philosophical — equal parts career advice, creative manifesto, and honest industry diagnosis. This season is brought to you by Andray Finance. For finance solutions, visit https://andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you! Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping creativity, business, and society. Follow The Joey Akan Experience Instagram: instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience TikTok: tiktok.com/@thejoeyakanexperience X: x.com/@thejoeyakanxp Follow Joey Akan Instagram: instagram.com/joeyakan X: x.com/@joeyakan Follow Tope Olowoniyan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topeolowoniyan The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production.

Cynthia Ogunsemilore: Nigerian Boxing Tried to End My Olympic Dream

Cynthia Ogunsemilore takes us beyond the boxing ring to reveal what it truly takes to build a career, fight for an Olympic dream, and navigate the broken systems within Nigerian boxing. Semilore walks us through her journey to discovering boxing, the fights that shaped her career, competing at the highest level, and the realities of surviving as a female boxer in Nigeria. From qualifying for the Olympics, to a management contract she later realized trapped her, and grueling fight to free herself. Despite the pressure of competition, politics and limitations surrounding the sport -- Cynthia remains steadfast in fighting for her career and the Olympic dream she refuses to give up on. This season is brought to you by Andray Finance. For finance solutions, visit https://andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you! Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping creativity, business, and society. Follow The Joey Akan Experience Instagram: instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience TikTok: tiktok.com/@thejoeyakanexperience X: x.com/@joeyakanxp Follow Joey Akan Instagram: instagram.com/joeyakan X: x.com/@joeyakan Follow Cynthia Semilore Instagram: instagram.com/cynthia.semilore The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production

Omowunmi Dada: I'm a Terrible Actor in Real Life

Nollywood has no shortage of talent. What it lacks is the infrastructure to hold onto it. Joey Akan sits down with award-winning actress Omowunmi Dada for a conversation about identity, purpose, fame and the realities of building a life in Nigerian entertainment. Omowunmi reflects on her journey as an actress, the values that have shaped who she is, the emotional demands of inhabiting different characters, and why she sees acting as more than a career. She opens up about fame, money, finding yourself, and the importance of telling African stories — especially stories about African women. She talks about what the industry's broken distribution and training pipelines cost the people trying to build in it, why she started teaching, and what she thinks the next generation needs that she never had. The conversation also explores Nollywood’s evolving industry, the challenges around distribution and training, and what it takes to build stronger pathways for African talent. Omowunmi shares how her work has extended beyond the screen, including her experience teaching and passing knowledge to the next generation. This season is brought to you by Andray Finance. For finance solutions, visit https://andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you! Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping creativity, business, and society. Follow The Joey Akan Experience Instagram: instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience TikTok: tiktok.com/@thejoeyakanexperience X: x.com/@joeyakanxp Follow Joey Akan Instagram: instagram.com/joeyakan X: x.com/@joeyakan Follow Omowunmi Dada Instagram: instagram.com/omowunmidada The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production.

Stan Nwosu: Is the Queen of Sheba in Ogun State?

What if one of the most famous stories from ancient history has a connection to Nigeria? In Episode 5 of The Joey Akan Experience, Joey Akan sits down with archaeologist Stan Nwosu to explore the stories, discoveries and questions surrounding Africa’s past — including the intriguing possibility of a connection between the Queen of Sheba and Osun State. From archaeology and ancient civilizations to the histories we inherited and the ones still waiting to be uncovered, Stan offers a different way of looking at what we think we know about our past. Watch the full conversation and tell us what you think. This season is brought to you by Andray Financce. For Finance solutions, visit visit https://andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you! Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping creativity, business, and society. Follow The Joey Akan Experience Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejoeyakanexperience X: https://x.com/joeyakanxp Email: thejoeyakanexperience[at]gmail.com Website: urucollective.co/the-joey-akan-experience Follow Joey Akan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeyakan X: https://x.com/joeyakan Follow Stan Nwosu IG: https://www.instagram.com/mr_osinachi The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production.

• Transcript

Opeyemi Famakin: Nigerians Don't Know Their Food

Joey Akan sits down with food critic and cultural commentator Opeyemi Famakin for a conversation that goes far beyond restaurants and reviews. From his early days in journalism to becoming one of Nigeria’s most influential food voices, Opeyemi reflects on the journey that transformed his career and reshaped how Nigerians think about food. He explains why many Nigerians have a limited understanding of their own culinary heritage, how poverty influences food choices, and why documenting regional cuisines has become more important than ever. Opeyemi also shares stories from his travels across Nigeria and 16 countries, exploring the diversity of local dishes, the cultural differences that define Nigerian food, and the overlooked traditions that deserve greater recognition. He opens up about the realities of being a food critic, the impact of social media on local businesses, and why criticism, when done right, can preserve culture as much as it shapes public taste. This is a thoughtful conversation about food, identity, storytelling, culture, and the responsibility of documenting one of Nigeria’s richest but least understood cultural assets. This season is brought to you by Andray Finance. For finance solutions, visit https://andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you! Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping creativity, business, and society. Follow The Joey Akan Experience Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejoeyakanexperience X: https://x.com/joeyakanxp Email: thejoeyakanexperience[at]gmail.com Website: urucollective.co/the-joey-akan-experience Follow Joey Akan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeyakan X: https://x.com/joeyakan Follow Opeyemi Famakin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opeyemifamakin X: https://x.com/opeyemifamkin The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production.

• Transcript

Oreoluwa Adedoyin: Why Africa Needs to Go Back to Ifá Worship

Joey Akan sits down with Ifá and Èṣù priestess Oreoluwa in one of the most spiritually charged and historically rich conversations of the season. From Bible competitions and prayer warrior to becoming one of Nigeria’s most unapologetic voices in Yoruba traditional religion, Oreoluwa takes us on her powerful journey of spiritual awakening. She opens up about growing up deeply Christian in a traditional Yoruba family, the church experiences that shattered her faith, and how a Facebook group during the 2020 lockdown led her into a life-changing rabbit hole. Oreoluwa breaks down the deliberate mistranslation of Èṣù as Satan, the role of Christian missionaries in the transatlantic slave trade, the erased legacy of the Yoruba slave who invented the smallpox vaccine, and why White people are now flying to Nigeria to learn the very spiritual system Nigerians were taught to fear and abandon. This is a bold conversation on African identity, ancestral power, decolonizing spirituality, and why Africa must return to Ifá worship to reclaim its medicine, power, and future. This season is brought to you by Andray Finance. For finance solutions go to https://andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you! Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping creativity, business, and society. Follow The Joey Akan Experience Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience TikTok: tiktok.com/thejoeyakanexperience X: https://x.com/joeyakanxp Email: thejoeyakanexperience[at]gmail.com Website: urucollective.co/the-joey-akan-experience Follow Joey Akan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeyakan X: https://x.com/joeyakan Follow Oreoluwa Adedoyin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oreoluwa_adedoyin The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production.

• Transcript

Jim Iyke: The Evolution of A Nollywood Bad Boy

Joey Akan sits down with Nollywood’s ultimate bad boy, Jim Iyke, for a raw and introspective dialogue about his journey from the streets into stardom, and the man he has become today. Jim opens up about growing up Igbo with parents who orchestrated his future, the heavy price of purpose over love, the unrelenting pressure of relevance, and why entertainment is where demons live. From learning softness and sacrificing for Plan A, to navigating mental archives, and informal life lessons this episode is a masterclass in evolution and self-awareness. This season is brought to you by Andray Finance. For finance solutions go to https://andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you! Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping creativity, business, and society. Follow The Joey Akan Experience Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience TikTok: tiktok.com/thejoeyakanexperience X: https://x.com/joeyakanxp Email: thejoeyakanexperience[at]gmail.com Website: urucollective.co/the-joey-akan-experience Follow Joey Akan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeyakan X: https://x.com/joeyakan Follow Jim Iyke Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jim.iyke/?hl=en X: https://x.com/jimiykeofficial?lang=en The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production.

• Transcript

Layi Wasabi: The Business of Comedy in Africa

The Joey Akan Experience returns with a compelling first episode featuring one of Nigeria's most influential creators, Layi Wasabi. Joey Akan sits down with Layi Wasabi for an honest and insightful conversation about his journey from law school to becoming a household name. Together, they explore the realities of building a career in content creation, navigating public attention, managing success, and understanding the business behind being a creator in today's digital economy. This season is brought to you by Andray Finance. For finance solutions go to https://andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you! Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping creativity, business, and society. Follow The Joey Akan Experience Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejoeyakanexperience X: https://x.com/joeyakanxp Email: thejoeyakanexperience[at]gmail.com Website: urucollective.co/the-joey-akan-experience Follow Joey Akan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeyakan X: https://x.com/joeyakan Follow Layi Wasabi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/layiwasabi X: https://x.com/layiwasabi The Joey Akan Experience is an Úrú Collective production.

• Transcript

How Paul Onwuanibe Built a $1B Real Estate Empire

In this compelling episode of The Joey Akan Experience, Joey Akan engages in a rare, in-depth conversation with Paul Onwuanibe, the visionary British-Nigerian business magnate and Group CEO of Landmark Africa. Paul shares the remarkable story of how he transformed marshland into one of the continent’s most iconic real estate and leisure empires — building Landmark Africa into a multi-billion-dollar “live, work, and play” destination across several African cities. From his early career at Regus, successfully selling a major serviced office business for over $20 million, to raising hundreds of millions in funding and pursuing a bold pan-African vision, this episode explores the mindset of a true empire builder. Listeners will gain powerful lessons on long-term thinking, calculated risk-taking, leadership at scale, legacy creation, and navigating the complexities of doing big business in Africa. This is a masterclass for entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, investors, and anyone fascinated by African ambition and large-scale development. #TJAXPODCAST ____ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejoeyakanexperience X: https://x.com/joeyakanxp Email: thejoeyakanexperience[at]gmail.com

How Kemen Built Africa’s Top Gym

In this powerful debut episode of The Joey Akan Experience, host Joey Akan sits down with Ekemini Ekerette, popularly known as Kemen — fitness entrepreneur, master trainer, and founder of Pure Fitness Africa, one of the continent’s most successful and premium gym brands. From his early days as a Big Brother Naija housemate to building a thriving fitness empire that includes state-of-the-art facilities and massive group training sessions, this conversation dives deep into the raw realities of entrepreneurship in Africa. Kemen opens up about the discipline, mental resilience, setbacks, failures, and unwavering commitment required to create a fitness brand that stands out in a highly competitive market. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, fitness enthusiast, or someone looking for real motivation to build something meaningful, this episode delivers honest and practical insights on mindset, leadership, perseverance, and creating lasting impact through wellness.Tune in for an inspiring, no-filter discussion on what it really takes to build one of Africa’s top gym experiences. #TJAXPODCAST ____ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoeyakanexperience/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejoeyakanexperience X: https://x.com/joeyakanxp Email: thejoeyakanexperience[at]gmail.com